Apparatus for the electrodeposition of metals on wire and strip



J. A. PARKER APPARATUS FOR THE ELECTRODEFOSITiON 0F METALS 0N WIRE AND STRIP Filed Feb. 10, 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Parke) v f m v ////////////////////////////////Z////Z//////////Z/ a & v

May 4,1926;

J. A. PARKER APPARATUS FOR THE ELECTRODEPOSITION OF METALS ON WIRE AND STRIP 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 May 4 1926.

' J. A. PARKER APPARATUS FOR THE, 'ELECTRODEPOSITION OF METALS on WIRE AND STRIP 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Feb. l0, 1925 //////A////// m M a m g A7///////%//%////////////////// May 4 1926;

J. A. PARKER APPARATUS FOR THE ELECTRODEPOSITION OF METALS on WIRE AND STRIP Filed Feb. 10, 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 .PITI I: III 111 lllllil.

' Fatente'ay 4, 192 6.

UNITE AT'ENTI'OFFICE.

Josnrn sermon run, or GWMBBAN, warms Application filed February I The invention relates to apparatus for the electrodeposition of metals 'on wire and strip.

The apparatus is of character which embodies a vat or tank to contain the electrolyte and the anodes. The wire or strip to be treated travels in an endless winding manner over and between two drums or -equivalents,one of which isimmersed in the electrolyte and the other of which is located .20 above the level of the electrolyte as, for example, above-the tank or vat. The wire or strip, during its endless travel under tension is 'alternatel exposed to-the solution and to the atmosp ere. The drums are made of insulating material andpreferably are disposed in vertical alingnment. The wire or strip to be treated is fed onto the top of the upper drum atone end ofthe drum, passes downwardly and around the lower drum at the same end, then upwardly and around the up er drum and then downwardly round t e lower drum and so on in endless winding manner with the coils thus formed in 'spated relation until it is taken off at the other end of the upper drum, thus passing through the electrolyte a sufficient number of times to be eiiiciently plated, and between each immersion being exposed to the atmosphere. The winding is caused by staggered 4 guiding grooves of the apparatus.

A desirable arrangement is to positively pull the wire oil the drums against tension applied to the wire at the entrance side and such pull also serves to revolve the drums.

Each stretch of wire or strip between the drums passes freely between two anode sur-- [faces so that there is a very large area of anode surface in close proximity to each stretch; and the anodes are preferably in the form of narrow bars detachably supported by upper bearers. The cathode connections for the wire or strip are preferabl in the form of a copper roller or bar on eac side of the drums with which the wire or 55. strip wipes in its travel. .The bar anodes TUS FQR T ELECTRODEPOSITION 0F METALS ON AND STRIP.

10, 1925. 'Serial No. 8,230.

may hang from a notched upper bearer and engage a'notched lower bearer.

Two desirable embodiments of the inven-' tion one for wire, and the other for narrow str1p, are illustrated 1n the accompanying drawings, wherein: I

Fig. 1 is a transverse vertical section of an apparatus for use with wire.

. Fig. 2 isa longitudinal sectional eleva-- tion of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 shows a transverse sectional detail of the arrangement of anodes used in the apparatus shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

Fig. 4 is a transverse vertical section ofa-n apparatus for use with strip.

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of the apparatus shown in Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional detail of the anrangement of anodes used in the form of apparatus shown in Figs. 4 and 5.

Similar letters of reference indicate like parts in all the figures of the drawings, both as to the apparatus shown" in Figs. 1 to 3 and as to the apparatus shown in Figs. 4: .to 5, as they differ onl in the proportion of parts enabling the first form to accom1nodate wire and the second form to accommo date strips.

a is the tank or vat which contains the ported at the upper end of the tank by the channel bars d d A second rotary drumh, also formed of insulating material, is supported above the upper end of the tank and has trunnions journalled in bearings halt which are supported on the tops of the channel bars d d Thisupper drum 72. may be revolved, if desired, from a pulley h but preferably it is revolved as otherwise hereinafter stated. The wire or strip 2' to be treated is first fed onto the top of thedrum k at the end 71. (Fig. 2) of said drum and passes downwardly around the lower drum 0 at the adjacent end and then upwardly and then around the upper drum and then downwardly around the lower drum again and so on in endless wind ing manner, with the coils spaced apart, to

the end h of the upper drum. Said wire or strip therefore passes downwardly and upwardly through the solution many times and between each passage through the solution is exposed to the atmosphere while travelling above the level or" the solution and around the upper drum it so that said wire or strip in its passage through the ma chine is alternately exposed to the solution and to the atmosphere, the drums c and h or which may be drivenby a belt from a suitable source of power.

The anodes j are shown as in the form of numerous bars rigidly suspended from upper bearers In, one on each side the drums o and h. Said anode bars are spaced apart, as clearly represented by the drawings, so that each stretch of wire or strip passing through the electrolyte also passes between two. anode bars so that there is a very largearea of anode surface in close proximity to each stretch of wire. The wire or strip travels spirally over the drums and is so guided by upper and lower fixed bars Z and m grooved, respectively, at Z and m in staggered relation, the wire or strip therefore being spirally guided to the drums c and h as it traverses the grooves Z and m'". The bars m, m in Figs. 1 to 3 have grooves m, m in their upper sides to receive the lower ends j of the anode bars 3" the proper distance apart.

The anode bars 3' are connected to a source of electric energy by leads n and 0. The level of electrolytic solution in the tank a isindicated by the letter p.

The cathode connections are made with the wire or strip on both sides of the drum is at a position above the electrolyte and may comprise bars g-against which the wire or strip i wipes as it passes to or from the drum it, These bars 9 are supported by the brackets 9 supported by the channel bars (11 al but insulated from the latter. llhe cathode connections from the source of enorgy to the bars 9 are at r,

The invention is particularly adaptable for the electro-deposition of spelter on wire 1; An apparatus for the electro-deposition of metals on continuous lengths of material, comprising a tank to contain electrolyte, a pair or" drums of non-conductive.

material spaced apart and around which the material to be treated moves in a coil, one of said drums adapted to be submerged in the electrolyte in the tank with the other above the level of such electrolyte, anodes depending into the tank closely adjacent the stretches of material between said drums, and cathode means bearing against said stretches of wire above the level of the electrolyte in said tank.

2. Apparatus acording to claim 1 wherein the anodes comprise a plurality of bars spaced apart and between which the stretches of treated material pass on their movement between and around the drums. I 3. Apparatus for the electro-deposition of metals on continuous lengths of material, comprising a frame, a drum of non-conducting material journalled at each end of said frame and over which the material to be treated moves in acoil, said frame adapted to be partially submerged in a tank containing an electrolyte withone of said drums immersed in the electrolyte and with the other drum above the level of the electrolyte,

a plurality of anodes depending from said frame and adaptedto extend into the electrolyte in said tank in close proximity to the stretches of material moving between said ltlll drums, and cathodes bearing. against said over the drums in spaced coils.

5. An apparatus for the electro-deposition of metals on continuous lengths of metallic material, comprising a frame embodying bars, a roller having its shaft supported by said bars, bearers depending fromsaid bars, a second roller having its journal. supported y said bearers adjacent the lower ends of the latter, said rollers adapted to have a con, tinuous strip of metallic material to be treated movable around them in a coil, a

plurality of anodes depending from said ars in close proximity to the paths of travel of the stretches of material moving between said rollers, and cathodes bearin against said stretches of material above sai oars.

6. An apparatus for the electro-deposition of metals on a continuous length of metallic material, comprising a plurality of upper bars, a plurality or lower bars, a plurality oi bearers connecting said up or and lower bars, a rollersupported by said upper bars,

"ly of said lower bars and suppbrtin lower ends of said anodes, and cat odes a roller supported said lower hars, members extending transversely of said upper bars, a plurality of spaced anodesdependln'g from each of said members in close proximabove the upper ends of said anodes and adapted to material.

7.- Apparatus according to claim 6 whereear against said stretches of my hand. in said upper and lower bars are provided with means to maintain the coils of metallic material to be treatedin proper spaced relation during their passage over said rollers.

- 8. Apparatus according to claim'6 wherein the upper and lower bars have spaced notches in which the upper and -lower ends of the anodes are mounted and are provided between said notcheswith grooves through passes in its movement fromlone ofthe rollers to the other.

In testimony whereof I have JOSEPH ARTHUR PARKER,

which the metallic material to-be treated 25' hereunto set 

